Online interviewing software is a tech-enabled, often cloud-based recruitment tool used by companies to lower hiring costs, increase efficiency, and gather vital data for hiring decisions. Over the past decade, these video interviewing solutions have gained immense popularity due to the rise of remote work and the need for a more efficient, lower-cost, hiring process.

"Online interviewing software" is a generic term for an entire category of tools that support virtual interviews. Tools in this category include video interview platforms, interview intelligence, candidate skills assessment software, and more.

In this article, we're going to give an overview of the solutions in this space, talk about the benefits, and mention some common virtual interview platforms you may be considering. We're even going to dive into choosing the best online interviewing solution to fit your needs- although this is often a subjective determination that depends on the specific needs of the individual using it. But first, let's take a step back.

The Rise in Popularity of Virtual Interview Tools

No one denies that the workforce has gone global. Today, a company may have virtual assistants in South Africa or the Philippines, sales development reps (SDRs) in Mexico or South America, Videographers and creatives in the Ukraine, and developers in India. With the rapid adoption of remote work and WiFi connecting the world, the virtual workplace has become anywhere you want to set up shop. Beaches, coffee shops, at home, or even in a hostel or "coworking" space.

As remote work has become more prevalent, companies have had to adjust their hiring processes to meet the demands of a workforce that doesn't show up to an office every day. This has caused a significant increase in the need for a new kind of interview, accessible to anyone with an internet connection, anywhere, at any time. Enter online interviewing software!

This solution also helped solve another challenge. The high costs of traditional hiring. Traditional face-to-face interviews are often time-consuming, require lead time, and sometimes require travel which is expensive. Video interviewing software, on the other hand, is inexpensive, fast, and easy to use.

The Purpose of Interviewing Software

At their core, online interviewing tools streamline the hiring process, reduce time and cost associated with interviews, and provide valuable data to inform hiring decisions. For example, imagine a company that's trying to increase diversity in hiring, without the ability to review interviews to see if bias is creeping into the selection process. Built-in features like video recording, interviewer insights, and automated transcriptions allow companies to see a more objective view of their candidates and make better hiring decisions. This is the value of interview intelligence software.

As we mentioned earlier, online interviewing software also offers added convenience for both candidates and employers. Candidates can participate in interviews from the comfort of their own home or any location with internet access. This eliminates the need for travel and allows for flexibility, which is especially important for candidates who may live far away, have other commitments, or work remotely. For employers, virtual interviews can also mean reaching a larger pool of candidates without the limitations of location.

Benefits Of Using Online Interviewing Software

Circling back to the idea of the "best video interview software" the benefit of today's video interviewing platforms is that they have something to offer everyone. If you take a look at your hiring process today, what's the biggest challenge you're trying to overcome? Is it lowering employee attrition? Interview intelligence can help with that. Is it hiring more skilled workers? Skills assessment tools can help with that. Are you trying to find ways to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce? Interview insights and implicit bias testing can help with that. Below we will outline the key benefits of using video interview software, including efficiency, accessibility, and standardization.

Key Challenges That the Best Video Interview Software Helps Organizations Overcome

The best video interview software is designed not only to provide numerous benefits but also to address several key challenges that organizations face in the hiring process.

1. Reducing Time-to-Hire

Hiring processes can often be lengthy, stretching over several weeks or even months. This extended timeline can result in losing top talent to competitors who move faster. Video interview software helps organizations accelerate their hiring processes by enabling quicker scheduling, real-time interactions, and faster decision-making.

2. Minimizing Hiring Costs

Traditional hiring methods, including in-person interviews, can involve significant costs—travel expenses, recruiter commissions, accommodation for candidates, and other logistical expenses add up. Video interviewing tools drastically cuts down these costs by facilitating remote interactions, thereby saving money for both employers and candidates.

3. Overcoming Geographic Barriers

Organizations aiming to tap into a global talent pool often face geographic barriers that traditional face-to-face interviews can't overcome. Virtual interview platforms break down these barriers, allowing companies to interview candidates from anywhere in the world, thus expanding their reach and access to diverse talent.

4. Better Candidate Experience (CX)

A cumbersome and outdated hiring process can detract from the candidate experience, potentially driving talent away. Video interviewing software offers a modern, user-friendly platform that allows candidates to interview at their convenience, providing a seamless and positive experience that reflects well on the employer's brand.

5. Ensuring Consistency and Fairness

One of the major challenges in the hiring process is ensuring consistency and fairness across all interviews. Video interview software often includes features such as structured interview questions and candidate skills assessments, reducing the risk of bias and ensuring that each candidate is assessed equally and objectively.

6. Better Data for Decision-Making

The best video interviewing platforms for collecting decision-making data are interview intelligence solutions and provide tools like video recording, transcription, and analytics that offer deeper insights and data-driven evaluations, helping organizations make more informed and unbiased hiring decisions.

7. Interview Scheduling Tools

Coordinating schedules for multiple interviews can be a logistical nightmare, especially when dealing with candidates in different time zones or busy executives with packed calendars. Candidate scheduling tools simplify this process with features like automated scheduling, calendar integrations, and time zone management, making it easier to find suitable meeting times for all parties involved- this can also save the hiring manager, recruiter, or HR up to 14 hours per role.

Addressing these challenges head-on allows the best video interview tools to optimize the hiring process and empower organizations to make smarter, faster, and fairer hiring decisions.

Most Common Virtual Interview Platforms

Let's take a look at some of the top players in the space, some interviewing techniques, and guidelines to help you get better results from your interviews. The "best interview platforms" is a subjective way of saying, whatever works best for you. However, the most common virtual interview platforms consistently rank high on industry lists and receive positive reviews from users.

1. HireVue

HireVue is often recognized as the pioneer in video interviewing software. They offer a solid platform that includes features such as live interviews, pre-recorded interviews, skills assessments, and interview analytics.

2. Spark Hire

Spark Hire boasts a user-friendly interface with customizable branding options. Their platform includes live and pre-recorded interviews, as well as scheduling tools, candidate assessments, and integrations with popular applicant tracking systems.

3. Pillar (our shameless plug)

Pillar is an interview intelligence that's powered by AI. Pillar's suite of tools serves as your one-stop shop for structured interviews, interview insights, and candidate skills assessments. Our platform piggybacks on Zoom and Teams so you can access the best hiring decision-making data. Customers tell us that our solution saves them more than 14 hours per role and helps drive vital hiring metrics like lowering employee attrition and increasing diversity.

4. VidCruiter

VidCruiter offers several unique features, including automated candidate screening and a built-in applicant tracking system. They also provide tools for live interviews, pre-recorded interviews, and video assessments.

5. Zoom

While not specifically designed for interviewing, Zoom has become a popular option due to its user-friendly interface and reliable video conferencing capabilities. Many organizations have turned to Zoom as a virtual interview platform during the pandemic and have stuck with the platform due to its ease of use.

Interviewing Guidelines and Techniques for Virtual Interviews

Now that we've covered some of the most common virtual interview platforms, let's quickly discuss some techniques and guidelines for conducting successful interviews using these tools.

1. Prepare a structured interview plan: It's crucial to have a clear structure and set of questions prepared for each virtual interview, whether it's live or pre-recorded. This will ensure consistency and fairness in the evaluation process.
2. Test your technology beforehand: Technical glitches can derail an otherwise smooth interview, so make sure to test your internet connection, camera, microphone, and any other necessary tools before the interview.
3. Provide clear instructions to candidates: Make sure to provide candidates with all the necessary information and instructions for the virtual interview, such as the platform being used, date and time, and any specific guidelines or requirements.
4. Use a professional background and attire: Just like an in-person interview, it's important to make a good first impression. Choose a professional background and dress appropriately for the virtual interview.
5. Be mindful of body language: Nonverbal cues can still play a significant role in virtual interviews- especially when using interview intelligence. Pillar’s platform assesses micro-expressions, tonal changes, and other verbal and nonverbal factors to assess truthfulness in interviews.
6. Allow time for candidate questions: Virtual interviews can feel more impersonal than in-person interviews, so make sure to allow time for candidates to ask any questions they may have about the role or the organization.
7. Take notes and review recordings: Utilize the tools offered by the virtual interview platform to take notes and review recordings after the interview. This can help with decision-making and provide valuable feedback for improvement in future interviews.

In conclusion, virtual interviewing platforms have revolutionized the hiring process, making it easier and more efficient for organizations to find the best candidates. If you'd like to see how they can help you gather candidate insights for better hiring decisions, book your demo of Pillar today- and see what interview intelligence can do for you.